I tried 8's a couple of times and found them toneless and hard to keep in tune on any of my guitars, but you may have better luck with them. Try them. If they don't work out, it's no big loss. The reason 9's are used on Strats is because of the Strats scale length. The longer the scale length, the more tension there is on the strings and the harder they are to bend. Usually people who use heavier gauge strings on Strats ans Teles tune down a half step. 9's are not a generic gauge. Gibson SG's, 335's etc. are easier to bend because of a shorter scale length.
I find Malmsteen's tone horrible. I've never heard of too many people using 8's on Gibsons. They don't work very well. I can't go below 10's on my Paul or my 335. Albert King used 11's or 13's, but tuned to C to get his trademark bends on his V.

D'Addario used to call them "half-steps" - they stopped making them for awhile. I used to like the .095 sets on my Strats.

With .011s you really work to get the bends, but the tone can be very rewarding.

This set is good gauge for a "half-step" set too :

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=100399

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hey, if i use thicker gauge strings will i be able to strum my guitar harder withought fear that the strings will snap...

I use .011's to .049's I think I broke 1 string all of last year. I do change them pretty often though.

I've read in magazine articles that Albert King used 8s. I wouldn't know how to verify it.

And in addition to Yngwie I have also heard it claimed that Brian May, Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page all use 8s too.

The Billy Gibbons one I've heard from enough "reputable" sources to believe it. But Jimmy Page? That amazes me! I suspect it's internet chit-chat: Ernie Ball's website claims Page uses their Super Slinkys - 9s. Still pretty light for a Les Paul...

Will we ever know for sure? And will we care?

- C

I use Ernie Ball 10-46 and 10-52 sets (for down tunings), sound and bendings are ok for me.

cheers

Is it true that lower gauge strings give rise to more buzz problems? My 8.5 set has been giving me a lot of buzz of late,specially beyond the 12th fret.I tried working on other adjutments to set it up where it wont buzz but when i do bends at the higher frets it does buzz & mutes a bit.Should I switch back to 9s?